The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress

With Vester's help, everything started to fall into place.

A few nights later, Darius Archer had to step out for an evening event-finally, the perfect window to put their plan into action.

To assist them, Vester volunteered to attend the gala with Darius, keeping him out

of the way.

That evening, as soon as Citrine and Sebastian received Vester's signal, they moved without hesitation.

Sebastian had already hacked into the estate's security system earlier that morning, disabling every camera on the premises. Wasting no time, they hurried upstairs.

Sebastian had also cracked the code to the locked door in advance, so getting inside was a breeze.

But once they entered, both of them froze.

Across the room, two armed guards stood on patrol. Citrine recognized their uniforms immediately-they matched those worn by the soldiers from Mirage Cay.

Their eyes met in a split second of silent understanding, and they pressed themselves flat against the wall, reacting instinctively.

Citrine turned her head to whisper to Sebastian, "They're armed. You can still back out now."

Sebastian paused, then broke into a grin. "Do you really think I'm the kind to run when things get tough?"

Citrine didn't answer, her gaze locked coldly on the two guards.

"I'll count down from three. On one, we move."

"Understood." Sebastian didn't hesitate for an instant.

Citrine counted under her breath. As she whispered “one,” both she and Sebastian somersaulted across the floor, closing in on the guards.

The soldiers' faces went pale as they raised their guns, but before they could fire, Citrine and Sebastian struck in perfect unison, knocking the weapons out of their hands and pinning them to the ground.

They each grabbed a gun, pressing the muzzles to the guards' backs, and forced them forward.

"Move. Take us to the safe," Sebastian ordered, voice cold as steel.

"Don't shoot, we'll do whatever you say!" The guards, faces ashen, pleaded desperately.

Without hesitation, they led Citrine and Sebastian behind a bookshelf. One of the guards knelt down and retrieved a remote control from a hidden gap at the base. With a soft click, a concealed door slid open.noveldrama

Citrine and Sebastian exchanged a glance—a glimmer of triumph flashing in their eyes.

Inside was a secret study. The safe was tucked beside the bookshelf.

"We've got ten minutes. I'll handle things here-go work on the safe," Citrine said, taking the gun from Sebastian and pressing it into the back of one guard.

Sebastian, knowing every second counted, hurried to the safe.

Spotting the manufacturer's logo—an international brand—he shot a look at the guards. "Where's a computer?"

"Cabinet behind you," they replied at once.

Sebastian pulled open the cabinet, grabbed the laptop, and immediately began hacking into the manufacturer's headquarters, searching for a way to override the safe.

Citrine watched his impassive expression and asked softly, "How's it going? Can you crack it?"

"Almost there," Sebastian murmured, fingers flying across the keyboard.

Seven minutes ticked by. Only three remained.

Citrine's nerves were stretched taut.

Suddenly her phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen-it was a message from Vester.

"Have you got the documents? Darius Archer is on his way back."

Citrine swiftly replied with one hand, "Arrange a car for us."

She stuffed her phone back into her pocket just as—click—the safe popped open.

Her eyes lit up. "Hurry, Archer's already on his way home. We're almost out of time."

Sebastian quickly gathered all the files from the safe.

With the guards at gunpoint, they hurried downstairs.

Just as they reached the ground floor, the sound of a car engine echoed from outside.

Citrine's face fell. "Damn, Archer's back."

Sebastian's expression grew tense.

He glanced toward the rear exit and said urgently, "We'll use the back way."

With no other option, they turned and moved quickly in the opposite direction.

But as they slipped out the back door, someone blocked their path.

Citrine braced herself, expecting Archer-only to look up and see the butler instead.

The butler was one of Vester's people.

He stood before them, calm and collected. "Ms. Carmichael, your car is ready. This way, please."

Citrine couldn't find words big enough to thank him. In the end, she simply said, "Thank you."

The butler glanced at the two guards. "I'll handle these men," he told Citrine.

With a subtle signal, two house staff appeared and expertly led the guards away-their practiced movements betraying they were far

more than ordinary servants. Clearly, Vester had people everywhere in this estate.

Citrine didn't look back, following the butler at once.

He led them to a small side door, paused, and handed Citrine a set of car keys.

Remembering how much his

employer valued Ms. Carmichael,

the butler offered a quiet warning as she lingered at the threshold. "You must leave now, Ms. Carmichael. My master's influence in Magnolia is formidable. If you're caught, you won't make it out alive."

"Thank Mr. Vester for me. And let him know-I accept his offer."

Without another word, Citrine grabbed Sebastian's hand, and. together they disappeared

x car waiting outside. Cet

Moments later, the vehicle sped away into the night.